Machine for finishing and cooling stereotype-plates.



H. A. w. w'oon. MACHINE FOR FINISHING AND COOLING STEREOT YPE PLATES.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 28 I908- Patented Apr. 6,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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H. A. w. WOOD. MACHINE FOR FINISHING AND COOLING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 28, I908.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915I 4 snnms snnntr 2.

I Z)2%/z/v/1- aw/ v H. A. W. WOOD. MACHINE FOR FINISHING AND COOLING STEREOTYBE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, I908.

7/6Z/zwm4 11.- A. w. W000. Y MACHINE'FOR FINISHING AND COOLING S TEBEOTYI'E PLATES.

I v q 'APPLICATIO N FILED SEPT-2B,!908L Patented Apr. 6, 1915;

' 4 sums-sum 4 UN E STATE$ P N OFFICE- HENRY A. wrsnwoon, or Nnwronx, N. Y. ,'Ass1eNon, IBY-MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

I WOOD NEWSPAPER MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y-,"A CORPORA- TIQN or VIRGINIA.

MACHINE m FINISHING AND cooLr G measures-renames.

To all whom it may concern: s 1

Be it known that I, HENRY A. WISE WOOD,

T a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Machine for Finishing and Cooling stereotype Plates, of which the following. is a specification.

This invention relates to machinesfor finishing stereotype printing plates, and par: ticularly to that type thereof 1n wh1ch the plates are fed along substantially in a straight path, and preferably. down an incline into position to be cooled. v,

v Whilethe featuresof this invention are capable of general use, it is herein presented more as an improvement on certain previous inventions on which I have filed the arch and be battered while being raised,

and to provide for allowing the edges to resume normal condition when in the arch; also to provide forproperly ad uSt ng'the distance'the plate israised on both sides;-

to provide for conveniently and eifectively lowering the plate out of the' arch; and generally, to improve and simplify the construction and operation of. stereotype plate shaving machine's.

Further objects and advantages of the in-' shaving out the inside of the plate.

When the .plate first 'rests on the rollers.

vention will appear hereinafter, I

Reference is to be had to the accompanying four sheets of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of agravity shaving machine constructed invaccordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same with certain parts. omitted, Fig. 3 is aside elevation of a portion of. the same .on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 with cer- Specification of Letters Patent. Applicationfiled September 28, 1908. Serial No. 454,972.

Patented Apr. 191 5 tain parts omitted, showing certain parts in elevation. Fig. 6 is asimila-r'view' showing the left-hand side-with the parts in-another position; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing how one of the supportin rollers for the edge of the plate is operate ,Although this invention is not limited'to the gravity type of shaving machines, it is particularly adapted thereto, and is'shown' as applied to that type. The machine is illustrated as embodying a frame 10 hav ing an inclined top provided with ahorizontal receiving. table '11 at one end, and hav:- ing an inclined runway formed byrollers 12 arranged onan incline for receiving the edges of the plates from the table 11. L0-

cated between these rollers is a saddle 13 s over which the plates move, and at the end of which are located a set of cams on the longitudinal shaft .14 of the machine. Two

of v these cams numbered 15 and 16 will be described hereinafter. The third cam 17 operates a roller 18 shown in Fig., 4, which is connected with a sliding stop 19, normally pressed by aespring 20 111130 a position to prevent the passage of the plate. As the shaft 14 revolves this stop is drawn down and allows the plate to slide down the incline into the shaving arch 21, where it rests on rollers 22. In this arch is shown a stationarv member or saddle having aflat steel spring26 thereon for engaging the inner side of the plate and checking its down-f ward motion as it approaches the discharge end thereof, so as to prevent its striking a stop 27 at the lower end with too much force. The stop27 is operatedby a track cam .28 on the shaft 145, so as to come into proper position to stopthe plate as it reaches the bottom or discharge end of the shaving arch. It will be understood that a shaving blade 29 is mounted on the shaft l4= for 22 these are at their lowermost position, and

they are caused to carry the plate up into the arch, in proper position to be shavedby the following mechanism: The cam 151previously mentioned, operates a cam roller 30' vertically sliding rack 35 which carries a support 36 on one side of the machine on which one set of rollers 22 are mounted. In a similar way the cam 16 operates a rock shaft 37 on the other side of the machine which carries arms 38 connected by links 40 with a slidable member 410. A fixed member 41 carries adjustable rods 42, which, carry springs 43 that yieldingly force upwardly a support 44 on which are mounted the rolls 22 on the other side. It is to be observed that the limit of the rocking motion of the shafts 33 and 37 is capable of adjustment by means of studs 45 and pairs of set-screws 46 mounted on the two arms extending from the shafts and connected with the forked levers. The operation of the two rock shafts after the set screws are properly adjusted causes the plate resting on the two sets of rollers to be elevated the same distance on both sides, unless the plates differ in length, in which case the variation is taken up by the compression springs 43. Means is provided also whereby as the plate is raised, its lower edges are sprung inwardly so as to clear the sides of the arch to prevent the plate rubbing against the arch. The mechanism shown for accomplishing this result consists of levers 50 pivotally mounted on the supports 36 and 44. These levers are provided with springs 52 at the bottom which normally swing the lower ends inwardly and the upper ends outwardly. They are provided with cam rollers 53. adapted to engage stationary cams 54-56; the sides of the machine. These cams are iprovided with a :giit-out portion 55 at the bottom and ai s co'nd less pronounced cut-out portion 56 further up. Between these cut-out portions the cam has a rise 57. On the upper ends of the levers 50 are located inwardly projecting gripping edges or jaws 58. 'As-these parts are raised, the rollers 53 are forced inwardly by the cam 54 so as tocause ,the edges 58 to grip the edges of the plate outside the matter, and compress them toward each other. As the parts approach their uppermost position, the cam roller 53 drops into the top cut outs 56, thus allowing the edges of the plate to spring back to fit the arch tightly, the plate being held in this position by the rolls 22 during the shaving operation. As the shaft 14 continues its rotation the cams 15 and 16 operate to lower the rolls 22 in an obvious manner and allow the parts to drop by their own weight, assisted by the weight of the plate. An extension spring 60 is'provided connected with arms 61 extending from the two rock shafts, and having an ad justment 62 for the purpose of starting the parts downwardly if they stick or show any tendency to remain up. As the plate drops back the cams 54 cause the levers 50 to press the edges of the plate in so as to escape the sides of the arch and then release them, the plate being supported by the rollers all the time. The cam 28 is so timed that when the plate drops back to its lowermost position, the stop 27 will be withdrawn so that the plate can slide along down over it. As the plate hashad at the most only a preliminary cooling in the hollow arch, to and from which water flows through pipes 620, it is now fully cooled.

In order to prevent the wetting of the printing surface of the plate, and do away with the difiiculty of drying the face of the plates thoroughly, the improperperformance of which operation injures the rollers of the'press, the following mechanism is provided: Surrounding the shaft 14 is a hollow semi-cylindrical cooling saddle 63 connected-with a'source of water supply by means of a series of pipes 64. The outer convex surface of thissaddle is provided with perforations 65 and with a series of rifle grooves 66 running substantially horizontally, over which the water discharged from the inside runs in continuous unbroken streams, without producing a spray. The plate is cooled by said streams in an effective manner and no water is allowed to touch the printing surface. The water discharged from the cooling saddle passes down through the bottom of the machine where it is caught and-discharged through a pipe 67. On the driving shaft 68 is a worm 78 operating a worm wheel 79 on the shaft 14. This worm is located in an oil casing 69. The end of the shaft 14 is shown as provided with an internal gear 7 0 meshing with a gear 71 on a shaft 72 journaled to rotate in the frame and provided with brackets 73 thereon carrying a drying device 74 for the interior of the plate. The supporting rolls continue to the bottom of the frame, and the plate brings up against a stationary stop 7 5 and is removed from the machine by hand or, in the absence of the stop, may be discharged on a table or truck located at theend of the machine. It will be understood of course that various shaving, trimming and other finishing means will ordinarily be employed with this machine. They are not shown herein as they are now well-known in the art and they can be applied easily to this machine in several ways, as for example, as shown in both of my prior applications mentioned above.

I do not herein claim the features of the cooling mechanism, the combination thereof with the finishing mechanism, or the method of cooling because these matters constitute a part of the subject matter of my co-pending divisional application Serial No. 557,107, filed April 23, 1910, entitled Machine for cooling stereotype plates.

"While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, and shown it as applied to a particular type of machine, I am aware that many modifications can be made herein and that it can be applied to manyother types' of machine without departing fromfthe scope of the invention asexpressedin the claims. There fore I do not wish to be limited to all the features of construction shown, but

What I do claim is 1. In a machine for finishing curved stereotype printing plates,the combination f a frame having an inclined upper surace franie in an inclined series, and a receiving table carried by the upper end of said frame and extending horizontally therefrom for receiving plates in position to be transferred to the rollers,

2. In a machine. for finishing curved stereotype printing plates, the combination of a saddle for receiving the plates, a lon tudinal shaft, a shaving arch, means f dr arresting the plates before they enter the arch, and means on the shaft for operating said arresting means.

3. In a machine for finishing curved stereotype printing plates, the combination with an arch, of a longitudinal shaft, cams on'said shaft,-forked levers engaging said shaft, a roller on each of said forked levers adapted to be operated by one of the cams, a pair of rock shafts, means connected with said rock shafts for moving the plates upwardly in the arch, and means for connecting said rock shafts with the forked levers.

In a machine for finishing curved stereotype printing plates, the combination of a shaft, a cam on said shaft, a lever adapted to be operated by said cam, a rock shaft, means for adjustably connecting said lever with the rock shaft, and means operated by the rock shaft for raising the plates.

5. In a machine for fini-hlng curved stereotype plates, the combination of a shaft, a pair of rock shafts, an arm connected with each rock shaft, a lever adapted to be operated by said first named shaft, means for adjustabl'y connecting each lever with one of said arms, and connections from said rock shafts for raising the plates in the machine.

6. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of an arch for receiving the plates, supports for'the opposite edges of the lates, means for yieldingly forcing one of said supports toward the arch, means for ositively forcing the other support towar the arch a variable distance. 7

plate finishing machine, the com- 7 In a bination of an arch for receiving plates, supports on the-sides of the arch, rollers carried by said supports for supporting the edges of the plates, means'for moving said supports towardthe arch, and means for withdrawing them therefrom, said last named means comprising an adjustable spring connected with both support moving means.

anti-friction rollers located along said spring the plates,

8. In a plate finishing machine, thecombination of movable supports. for the ledges of-a plate, means for moving said supports, and-means forv springing the edges .of the plate toward each other while resting on said supports.

a Plate finishing ch n the an bination of supports for the edges of e the plates with means for forcing said edges to Ward each other on said supports.

bination of an arch, means for moving toward the arch, and means for s1multa-.

plate is seated in the arch.

, 12. In a vplate-finishing machine, the coinbination of an. arch with means for simultaneously moving a plate into the archand springing the edges thereofinwardly, and for releasing said springingmeans when the plate is seated in the arch, and for again with means forsimultae 7 plate into thearch and springing said edges inwardly when the plate 15 being withdrawn. I

13. Ima plate finishing machine, the combination of an arch, means for moving the plates toward the arch, and a pair of'l'evers located on the opposite sides of the arch for engaging the edges of the plate outside the matter when the plate is moved toward or from the arch. f

14. Ina plate finishing machine, the combination of an arch, means for movingthe plates toward the arch, a pair; of levers located on the opposite sides of the plate for engaging the edges of the plates outside the matter when the plate is moved, and cams located in position to engage said levers and operate them as they are raised or lowered with the plates.

15. In a late finishing machine, the com bination o a frame, an. arch supported thereby, supports movably mounted on the frame for carrying the plate toward and from the arch, levers carried by said sup-.

of the plates, and cams fixed on the frame, said cams each having a cut out portion at the bottom for permitting the levers to swing backwardly away from the plates, a high portion above said out out portion for cans-- ing the levers to move inwardly so as to and a cut out portion at a higher level for permitting the levers to swing back, and the plate to assume a. natural position in the arch.

16. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a reciprocable support, a lever ivoted thereon and movable therewith and having a jaw at its end, a spring for forcing 7s I 10. In a platefinishing machine, the complates by said supports for gripping the edges of said plates outside the matter thereon.

18. In a machine for finishing stereotype printing plates, the combination of a frame, an arch thereon, supports on the opposite sides of said arch for the lower edges of the plates, a rock shaft. for operating each support, positive means for connecting one rock shaft with its support, a link connected with the other rock shaft, a reciprocable member adapted to be operated by said link, and springs adjustably connected with said recipro'calole member and bearing on the support on that side of the machine.

19. In a machine for finishing curved stereotype plates, the combination of a frame, a longitudinal shaft thereon, on the frame, a stop outside the arch, means on the shaft for operating said stop, a stop on the opposite side of the arch, means on an arch the shaft for operating the second stop, and means within the arch for checking the motion of the plates therein.

20. Ina plate finishing machine, the combination of a'frame, an arch thereon, means for regulating the passage of plates along the frame, and resilient means in the arch for retarding the motion of the plates.

21. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of an arch, a frame having an inclined run-way thereon, anti-friction rollers in said run-way for supporting the edges of the plates, a stop located at the lower side of the arch, and resilient means within the arch for retarding the motion of. a plate as it approaches the lower side of the arch.

22. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a frame having an inclined runway, anti-friction rollers along said run-way for supporting the plates, and a spring fixed to said frame and extending into position to retard the-motion of the plates along the run-way.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

H. A. WISE WOOD.

Witnesses: I

ANNIE B. WALTERS, MARY E. MoCoDnEN. 

